--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew that if I wanted to really…" description: "\"I knew that if I wanted to really maintain control, I would have to keep the budget down. And I did. And I feel very fortunate that - y'know, this movi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/joseph-gordon-levitt-1583_budgets_i-knew-that-if-i-wanted-to-really-mainta_58953.jpg" --- # I knew that if I wanted to really maintain control, I… ![“I knew that if I wanted to really maintain control, I would have to keep the budget down. And I did. And I feel very fortunate that - y'know, this movie [Don Jon] - frame for frame, line for line - is exactly what I wanted it to be. Nobody made me change anything.” quote by Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/joseph-gordon-levitt-1583_budgets_i-knew-that-if-i-wanted-to-really-mainta_58953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/joseph-gordon-levitt-1583_budgets_i-knew-that-if-i-wanted-to-really-mainta_58953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/joseph-gordon-levitt-1583_budgets_i-knew-that-if-i-wanted-to-really-mainta_58953.jpg) > “I knew that if I wanted to really maintain control, I would have to keep the budget down. And I did. And I feel very fortunate that - y'know, this movie \[Don Jon\] - frame for frame, line for line - is exactly what I wanted it to be. Nobody made me change anything.” [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes that strict budget constraints preserve creative control, allowing the final product to match his precise vision without external interference. **In simple terms:** Budget discipline safeguards artistic intent. Key Takeaway Control comes from financial limits. Themes creative autonomy budget management authorial integrity independent filmmaking vision fidelity Mood determined proud confident Type personal anecdote industry insight When to use this quote - indie film production - low‑budget TV series - self‑financed web series - personal passion projects Key Concepts budget constraints creative control director's vision Practical Applications - maintaining script fidelity - ensuring consistent visual style Questions to Reflect On - How does financial pressure shape artistic decisions? - What trade‑offs arise when limiting resources? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Budget Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/budget-did-809939/) [Budgets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/budgets/) [Control Budget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-budget-809935/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Line Exactly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line-exactly-809941/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Maintain Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintain-control-317109/) [Really Maintain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-maintain-809937/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [The 9/11 Commission strongly recommends that the National Intelligence Director be fully in control of the budget, from developing it to implementing it, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-boswell/the-9-11-commission-strongly-recommends-that-the-national/) [Leonard Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-boswell/) > [The budget doesn't have much control over the government. Then again, the government doesn't have much control over the budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-budget-doesn-t-have-much-control-over-the-government-then-again/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Either way, you are in charge. Jealousy works against you. It takes control away from you, hands it over to the opposition. Maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/either-way-you-are-in-charge-jealousy-works-against-you-it-takes/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Fears, insecurities, and the need to please can rule our lives. Our society is economically and socially set up for us to live under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/fears-insecurities-and-the-need-to-please-can-rule-our-lives-our/) [Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [Just because the only way you can maintain control over your bodily passions is to sit straight in your chair, knees together, hands delicately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/just-because-the-only-way-you-can-maintain-control-over-your-bodily/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The establishment, whatever rewards it gives us, will also, if necessary to maintain it's control, kill us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-establishment-whatever-rewards-it-gives-us-will-also-if-necessary/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [ We couldn't afford test screenings. This is a relatively low-budget movie \[Don Jon\]. But what we did have was the festival circuit. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/we-couldn-t-afford-test-screenings-this-is-a-relatively-low-budget/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [Currently, the United States provides 22 percent of the U.N. annual budgets, over $900 million in fiscal year 2007, and some of that funding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mccaul/currently-the-united-states-provides-22-percent-of-the-u-n-annual/) [Michael McCaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mccaul/) > [ The only way you can do that \[decrease taxes, balance the budget, and increase military spending\] is with mirrors… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-anderson/the-only-way-you-can-do-that-decrease-taxes-balance-the-budget-and/) [John B. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-anderson/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Joseph Gordon-Levitt > [Let's face it, most pretty girls aren't funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/let-s-face-it-most-pretty-girls-aren-t-funny/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [Most of what Hollywood puts out is crap anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/most-of-what-hollywood-puts-out-is-crap-anyway/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [If you're going to put yourself above everybody else, you might end up alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/if-you-re-going-to-put-yourself-above-everybody-else-you-might-end-up/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I think, honestly, that the word 'indie' is a false gimmick. 'Independent' used to mean a movie that was financed outside corporate Hollywood, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-think-honestly-that-the-word-indie-is-a-false-gimmick-independent/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I like making little videos and little records. I've always loved video cameras and four-track cassette recorders, still cameras, anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-like-making-little-videos-and-little-records-i-ve-always-loved/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [You usually get one or the other, you get someone who knows how to tell a story but they don't necessarily know about light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/you-usually-get-one-or-the-other-you-get-someone-who-knows-how-to/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [That is very different from how it used to be in the 20th century. Media was very one way. There's a small little industry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/that-is-very-different-from-how-it-used-to-be-in-the-20th-century/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [When I was a teenager I loved acting, but I really just loved it for myself. I didn't like the fact that anyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-loved-acting-but-i-really-just-loved-it-for/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I don't buy into the glory days thing. I think every time has its great things to it. The '60s were such a glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-don-t-buy-into-the-glory-days-thing-i-think-every-time-has-its/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I didn't really like doing commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-didn-t-really-like-doing-commercials/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I just need some time away to remember why I stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-just-need-some-time-away-to-remember-why-i-stay/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I love Kimberly Peirce. Incredibly intense is a good way of describing her. Brutally honest. Really sharp. She's a director for actors. That's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-love-kimberly-peirce-incredibly-intense-is-a-good-way-of-describing/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I think there is something beautiful in reveling in sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-think-there-is-something-beautiful-in-reveling-in-sadness/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [That's sort of what I wanted to make fun of a little bit with Don Jon. And I think oftentimes, if you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/that-s-sort-of-what-i-wanted-to-make-fun-of-a-little-bit-with-don-jon/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [It's just a natural part of being a social creature and being a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/it-s-just-a-natural-part-of-being-a-social-creature-and-being-a-human/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) [Explore all 226 Joseph Gordon-Levitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) ## More Budgets quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [ The only way you can do that \[decrease taxes, balance the budget, and increase military spending\] is with mirrors… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-anderson/the-only-way-you-can-do-that-decrease-taxes-balance-the-budget-and/) [John B. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-anderson/) > [Currently, the United States provides 22 percent of the U.N. annual budgets, over $900 million in fiscal year 2007, and some of that funding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mccaul/currently-the-united-states-provides-22-percent-of-the-u-n-annual/) [Michael McCaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mccaul/) > [Sometimes a party must sail against the wind. We cannot heed the call of those who say it is time to furl the sail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/sometimes-a-party-must-sail-against-the-wind-we-cannot-heed-the-call/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The only way to learn on a zero dollar budget is to talk to people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-houston/the-only-way-to-learn-on-a-zero-dollar-budget-is-to-talk-to-people/) [Drew Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-houston/) > [The only features I've done have been on the lower-budget end, for what they were. It's really all about getting the best people aboard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-garris/the-only-features-i-ve-done-have-been-on-the-lower-budget-end-for/) [Mick Garris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-garris/) > [The average family exists only on paper and its average budget is a fiction, invented by statisticians for the convenience of statisticians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-porter/the-average-family-exists-only-on-paper-and-its-average-budget-is-a/) [Sylvia Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-porter/) > [Tachyon OPC+ is a natural extension of our market-winning Tachyon platform, giving customers a clear path to minimizing the OPC error budget and producing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/tachyon-opc-is-a-natural-extension-of-our-market-winning-tachyon/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [The impresario function is about intervening with the company's more administrative management structure. It is about trying to establish a sense of boundaries and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-impresario-function-is-about-intervening-with-the-company-s-more/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [I was the chairman of the Budget Committee and the lead architect the last time it happened in Washington, and when we did it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-was-the-chairman-of-the-budget-committee-and-the-lead-architect-the/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) [Browse all 1,015 Budgets quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/budgets/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I knew that if I wanted to really maintain control, I would have to keep the budget down. And I did. And I feel very fortunate that - y'know, this movie [Don Jon] - frame for frame, line for line - is exactly what I wanted it to be. 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